CBD Health

Who they are: Based in Austin, Texas, Elevated Wellness is the handiwork of pharmacists on a mission: to produce the “absolute highest quality cannabinoid products” and provide an alternative to “harmful chemicals.” Mission impossible? Think again.

Elevated sets the bar high with carbon dioxide (CO₂) extraction, US-based organic hemp, and organic terpene blends. Not to mention their Texas laboratories boast ISO-5 and USP-800 certification.

Say what? ISO-5 is a cleanroom standard (particles floating in the air) and USP-800 covers how to handle drugs in healthcare settings. Way to elevate! The QR codes can be scanned for third-party lab reports, which cover cannabinoids and (sometimes) terpenes.

The company has retail locations in Texas that also vend vetted products from other companies. The branded Elevated line is relatively new and less tried. But the company itself is known for splendid customer service.

All in all, don’t mess with Texas.

Why they’re unique: Elevated was founded by healthcare professionals and caters wholesale options to healthcare providers. In other words, don’t be surprised if it shows up on outpatient shelves near you. That said, it can also be purchased through the site or retail locations.

What products they have: Tinctures and pain cream. Oh, and apparel with fun designs!

It’s a short list but there are quite a few options for tinctures. On tap are isolate, broad-spectrum, and full-spectrum products. CBD Isolate packs up to 5,000 mg CBD per bottle. Don’t forget to pick a flavor: dreamsicle, mint, or strawberry lemonade. The basic Broad Spectrum tincture is similar but tops off at 3,000 mg.

Too plain, Jane? Check out the terpene infusions. These come in broad or full spectrum with up to 6,000 mg per bottle. Focus infuses the essence of Lemon OG Kush with limonene, linalool, nerolidol, and others for clarity and alertness. If that doesn’t cut it, there’s Energy with the terpenes of Ghost Train Haze to put pep in that step. Whew—time to wind down. Relax has got your back with a lineup of terpenes from Granddaddy Purple that features myrcene.

Then there’s Sleep Aid, which is “more potent” than similar products, and delivers 67 mg CBD and 10 mg melatonin per dose. Talk about a knockout!

Elevated uses a proprietary liposomal base in their Pain Cream for “immediate absorption of active ingredients.” There are two options—400 mg and 1,500 mg CBD—but they’re a little different. The low dose is broad spectrum and the high dose is full spectrum. Both feature menthol and camphor although the smaller size has less CBD and more of each terpene.

Bonus: The folks at Elevated are happy to chat and help out!

A family in the United Kingdom (UK) is challenging guidelines laid out by the National Health Service (NHS) with regards to their medical cannabis policy. Three-year-old Charlie Hughes suffered up to 120 seizures daily before being treated with medical cannabis oil. After treatment, the young boy was down to less than 20 seizures a day. Medical cannabis was legalized in the UK in 2018, but the establishment of a widespread program has been stalled and few prescriptions have been written.

According to the current NHS guidelines laid out by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), there is “not enough evidence” for doctors to recommend cannabis medicine for severe conditions like the one that Charlie has, a rare epileptic disorder known as West syndrome. This is especially concerning to hear, as a prescription formulation of CBD, Epidiolex^®, is approved in the UK as a treatment for two severe forms of epilepsy–however, these conditions do not include West syndrome.

Before successfully reducing his seizures, Charlie was prescribed six different epileptic drugs, which were not effective. Charlie’s parents, Ali and Matt Hughes, told the BBC that they were out of options before his son was prescribed medical cannabis. These positive developments caused Charlie’s parents to become outspoken about what they see as a need for policy reform.

The attorney working on the Hughes family’s case, Nusrat Zar, is campaigning for policy change. Zar says that NHS doctors are concerned about prescribing cannabis and do not feel confident in doing so, despite there being no recommendation against it.

The current NICE guidelines state that the proof of cannabis’ safety, as well as the evidence for its effectiveness as a medical treatment, are limited. Zar contends that NICE was lacking proper consultation from doctors and medical professionals when the guidelines were produced. This is the first legal challenge to the guidelines.

NICE offered no comment on what they called “an ongoing legal matter.”

The charge toward greater availability of medical cannabis in the US was led by similar families, most notably the Figis, whose famous fight for their daughter Charlotte led to signifcant policy changes and awareness of the benefits of cannabis medicine for children with epilepsy.

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For many, our furry friends are not only companions but family. We take their health as seriously as our own. As dietary supplements continue to rise in popularity, it might not come as a surprise that there are similar supplements available for dogs. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil has become a popular addition to people’s everyday lives in the past few years, but are you aware of its potential benefits for your four-legged friend?

Here are some ways a CBD supplement made specifically for dogs may help your furry family member:

Neurodegenerative Diseases

Our senior dogs can suffer from mental decline in their old age just as humans do. CBD oil may help protect the brain from toxicity, which can protect brain cells from death or damage. While more research is needed, studies have suggested beneficial effects for conditions like Alzheimer’s disease in humans.[1]

Anxiety

Dogs can become anxious from many different things like thunder or fireworks or in situations where there is a lot happening. If you have a dog that suffers from anxiety, CBD oil might be able to help, as CBD has soothing properties in humans.

Pain

CBD is well known its pain-relieving properties.[2] Thanks to CBD oil, your dog may get relief from chronic pain without the side effects associated with prescription pain medication.

Epilepsy

Many dogs suffer from seizures and must take medications that can be hard on the liver. In humans with epilepsy, CBD has been shown to reduce the total number of seizures. And a small study showed that CBD can reduce seizure frequency in canines although further studies are needed.[3]

Digestive Health

As our furry friends start to age, they can begin to experience a decline in their digestive system functions. CBD and other cannabinoids have been shown to improve symptoms of nausea in humans.

Inflammation

Older dogs often suffer from inflammation caused by arthritis, which can be very painful. CBD oil as a supplement may help target those aching joints. In fact, a small study showed that
2 mg/kg of CBD twice a day helped alleviate discomfort in canines.[4,5]

Itchy Skin

CBD oil treats rich in omega-6 fatty acids may help dogs who have dry and itchy skin. Since CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, it can help humans with certain skin conditions and therefore may also alleviate these conditions in dogs.

Cancer

Research has shown that CBD oil and other compounds found in hemp may have an anti-tumor effect. CBD oil could stop cancer cells from growing but further research is needed.

Bottom Line

CBD is non-intoxicating, and can be added to food, used as a topical ointment or cream, taken in pill form, or used straight from the dropper. Be sure you choose a supplement or treat that is specifically formulated for canines and follow the dosing instructions.

While CBD is considered safe, it could increase liver enzymes and therefore it is important to to follow the advice of your veterinarian when using CBD as a treatment for any condition.

Michael is a marketing and creative content specialist at GotVape.com with  a primary focus on customer satisfaction. Technology and fitness combined with healthy lifestyle obsession are his main talking points.

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References

1. Maroon J & Bost J. Review of the neurological benefits of phytocannabinoids. Surg Neurol Int. 2018;9:91.
2. Vučković S, et al. Cannabinoids and pain: New insights from old molecules. Front Pharmacol. 2018;9:1259.
3. McGrath S, et al. Randomized blinded controlled clinical trial to assess the effect of oral cannabidiol administration in addition to conventional antiepileptic treatment on seizure frequency in dogs with intractable idiopathic epilepsy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2019;254(11):1301-1308.
4. Bland SD. Canine osteoarthritis and treatments: A review. Veterinary Science Development. 2015; 5:5931.
5. Gamble LJ, et al. Pharmacokinetics, safety, and clinical efficacy of cannabidiol treatment in osteoarthritic dogs. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:165.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a naturally occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis plant. Both CBD and cannabinoids have a slew of medicinal properties with applications in the health and wellness field.

The list of health benefits of CBD continues to grow, and one of the more exciting things about CBD is its application to the world of skincare and cosmetics. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties and ability to regulate sebaceous glands of the skin, CBD may be an effective substance to combat both acne and sun damage.

CBD For Acne

Acne breakouts are generally caused by skin inflammation and over production of sebaceous glands. CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can help keep acne breakouts at bay and may also help regulate the production of sebum, an oily, waxy substance.

While sebum helps protect the skin from the elements, it can also lead to acne if it clogs the pores, along with dirt, dead skin cells, and other debris.

One study found that CBD was able to prevent sebocytes, which produce sebum, from creating too much of the oily substance.[1]

The study also found that CBD oil triggered an anti-inflammatory response in sebocytes and prevented the activation of inflammatory cytokines, which can trigger acne. By inhibiting the activity of such cells, further breakouts may be reduced.

CBD For Sun Damage

Thanks to CBD’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it may be used as an effective topical to treat sunburns and even combat the long-term effects of sun exposure.

CBD and other cannabinoids may also help alleviate pain and discomfort from sunburns.[2] Further, the antioxidant properties of CBD may help to combat damage done by free radicals, and their naturally occurring fatty acids can help soften and moisturize the skin.[3]

The Bottom Line

In an effort to target skin conditions, users may apply CBD topical creams and lotions directly on top of the skin’s surface to control specific areas of breakouts or scarring from sun exposure.

While some dermatologists have concerns about product labeling and regulation, many support using CBD for certain skin conditions.

And while further human research is needed to solidify these claims, anecdotal evidence suggests that CBD certainly has its place in the world of skin care.

Image Credit: Joseph Mucira

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References

1. Oláh A, et al. Cannabidiol exerts sebostatic and antiinflammatory effects on human sebocytes. J Clin Invest. 2014;124(9):3713-3724.
2. Tóth KF, et al. Cannabinoid signaling in the skin: Therapeutic potential of the “c(ut)annabinoid” system. Molecules. 2019;24(5):918.
3. Atalay S, et al. Antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019;9(1):21.

VIENNA (Reuters) – The U.N. drug agency’s member states on Wednesday narrowly voted to remove cannabis from the most tightly controlled category of narcotic drugs, following the World Health Organization’s recommendation to make research into its medical use easier.

The annual Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime’s governing body, voted 27-25 with one abstention to remove cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, a global text governing drug controls, a U.N. statement said.

The vote followed a 2019 WHO recommendation that “cannabis and cannabis resin should be scheduled at a level of control that will prevent harm caused by cannabis use and at the same time will not act as a barrier to access and to research and development of cannabis-related preparation for medical use.”

Other drugs in Schedule IV include heroin, fentanyl analogues and other opioids that are dangerous and often deadly. Cannabis, by contrast carries no significant risk of death and it has shown potential in treating pain and conditions such as epilepsy, the WHO found.

The U.N. statement on the meeting in Vienna of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs did not say which countries backed or opposed the change, or why the vote was so close.

The convention states that a party to it will take “any special measures of control which in its opinion are necessary having regard to the particularly dangerous properties” of a drug listed in Schedule IV.

Schedule I, the next strictest level of control, which includes cocaine, does not carry that stipulation. The WHO recommended that cannabis still be listed there, noting “the high rates of public health problems arising from cannabis use.”

The commission did not, however, back other WHO recommendations, such as removing “extracts and tinctures of cannabis” from Schedule I, the statement said.

Original Article: https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-un-drugs-cannabis/u-n-drug-agency-loosens-global-controls-on-cannabis-following-who-advice-idUKKBN28C32L

After election day, cannabis stocks jumped to around 30% to 40%. Much of this economic excitement was thanks to the fact that four states legalized adult-use cannabis consumption: Arizona, New Jersey, Montana, and South Dakota. With that, about one-third of Americans now have the legal right to consume cannabis.

Unfortunately, we aren’t certain these efforts are going to open up opportunities for federal legalization. At least, not in the near future.

Currently, a bill is circling Capitol Hill known as the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. If passed, it would make cannabis a decriminalized substance and remove it from Schedule I. Not to mention, it would allow those with previous cannabis charges to begin the process of expungement.

While this wouldn’t legalize cannabis, it would certainly pave the way for legalization.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the MORE Act in December and, given their political leanings, there’s a healthy chance it will pass. From there, it will be taken to the Senate where there’s just as healthy a chance it won’t pass.

This past election season, Republicans won the majority in the Senate again, many of whom are against cannabis legalization. Being the US legal process and the current seats held down in the Senate, it’s extremely unlikely a federal cannabis legalization bill will pass within the next two years. But we shouldn’t give up hope.

Recent polls have revealed that nearly two-thirds of Americans think legalizing cannabis is a good idea. And with more and more Americans opening up to the idea, it’s likely the politicians will eventually follow.

For if they want to be voted in again, they’re going to have to listen to what we’re asking for.

In addition to the legal status of cannabis as a whole, the cannabidiol (CBD) industry has also been waiting on guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as additional feedback from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Without knowing if CBD will be treated as a supplement or how evolving policies will impact hemp extraction and processing, the industry stands in limbo, lacking standardizations across the board, most importantly of all, lacking testing standards.

With all this said, it’s likely we’re going to see more states legalize medical and adult-use programs within the next few years and, hopefully, greater advances in CBD policy.

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The cannabidiol (CBD) industry is often called the “Wild West” due to a lack of standard regulations. It’s also thick with scammers trying to get rich quick who no nothing about the plant. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), further regulations will be implemented soon, but until that happens, unscrupulous companies can take advantage of the public’s interest in CBD.

Be Wary of Swindlers

There’s more than one way to be fooled by a CBD company. One very important issue is the  actual CBD content within products. In 2019, the FDA looked at popular CBD products and tested the accuracy of their labels. Among the products they examined that purported to contain a specific amount of CBD, more than half contained “less than 80% of the CBD amount indicated.” You may be paying top-dollar for “CBD” that’s little more than plain oil. Not to mention that people who need CBD for medical conditions will not get the relief they need.

You can also lose a lot of money if you trust the wrong CBD company. A standard scheme used by other industrues is to lure customers in with a free trial offer. They’ll send you a CBD sample, and all you have to do is pay shipping and handling fees. Many people miss the fine print that says they’ll be on the hook for a much heftier charge when their free trial ends. Or, in some cases, the company commits blatant fraud and charges the customer without informing them or giving them a way to cancel the payment.

A recent example is from a company that used images of a celebrity to instill trust in people and convince them to hand over their credit card information in exchange for a few CBD products. After charging a nominal shipping fee, the company then hit customers with multiple charges totaling more than £160.

Another important consideration is to look closely at the claims companies are making. While some CBD blends may include other substances like herbs or serotonin to help promote sleep, do not buy products claiming to “cure” any disease. Medical claims cannot be made at this time for CBD products, and many companies have received Warning Letters from the FDA due to this issue.

The Bottom Line

When you’re buying CBD, stick with well-known, reputable companies. All companies should publish independent testing data showing the quality of their products. Find a company that you feel comfortable with and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Ask your doctor and dispensary if they recommend any companies or products. And take a look at our product reviews, which do a deep dive on different companies, highlights their pros and cons, and provides an in-depth look at what they offer.

Always be a vigilant consumer, ask questions, and be wary of any wellness products you buy.

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